Raspberry macaroon bars

I think I found this recipe in the Food Network magazine....but I couldn't find it online to confirm. These bars were chewy, gooey and delightful. The flavor combination is unique and yummy. Luke loves coconut and I knew he'd be pleased, I made these for my girl's night party last weekend....along with several other desserts!

Ingredients for crust:
15 full graham crackers, slightly broken apart
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 stick cold butter, cut into chunks
2 large eggs
zest of one large lemon
1 1/3 cups raspberry jam
Ingredients for topping:
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
one 14-ounce package of sweetened coconut

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 17x12-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.

For the crust, finely grind the graham crackers in a food processor. Add the flour, sugar and salt and pulse until thoroughly blended.

Drop in the chunks of butter and pulse until the butter is cut evenly into the graham cracker mix. Add the eggs and lemon zest and pulse until just blended. The dough will look like wet meal, and not necessarily hold together. Turn it out onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and press firmly into place with your fingers. If it's too sticky, moisten your fingers with water.

Spread the jam over the crust, it is okay if it's uneven, it will spread out evenly in the oven.

For the topping, using an electric mixer, beat the butter briefly at medium speed. Add the sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well wit each addition. Turn the mixer to low, add the coconut, and stir until just combined.

Drop the coconut mixture by small spoonfuls over the jam (or use fingers) covering it as best as you can.

Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until coconut topping is golden brown. Cool the pan. Once bars are cool, cut into squares.

The best treat in the world: S'mores cookie bars

I have recently become obsessed with Hershey's marshmallow eggs.....thankfully Easter candy is now gone from stores....because I need to stop eating these things.  However, while looking for marshmallow-based desserts online, I found this amazing website: http://www.lovintheoven.com/

The recipes all sound amazing, I found one for "S'mores Cookie Bars" and knew I would love them.  Here is a photo of the delightful treat:

I made them on Saturday, hoping that people would come for book club and eat them all.....knowing if they did not - I would.  The recipe is pretty easy and TOTALLY worth it:)

S'mores Cookie Bars:
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 and 1/3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 king-sized milk chocolate bars (I actually used 1/2 bag of chocolate chips)
1 and 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (not melted marshmallows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and 8-inch square baking pan. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined. Divide dough in half and press into an even layer on bottom of prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough (if using chocolate chips, spread the marshmallow fluff down first) and spread marshmallow fluff on top. Place remaining dough in single layer on top of the fluff (this last step is tricky, flatten dough into little sections and then place on top and pinch together.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

I recommend putting a bar in the microwave for 20 seconds before eating as the chocolate and marshmallow will get all gooey and delightful!

Here is a link directly to this recipe: http://www.lovintheoven.com/2008/12/day-11-smores-cookie-bars.html